Former IG of Police Arrested For Embezzlement

The Former Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ehindero has been remanded in Kuje prisons for charges of embezzling and misappropriating funds while at the helm of affairs. Ehindero is on trial for allegedly embezzling N16 million meant for the police force. He and a former Commissioner of Police in charge of Budget, John Obaniyi, were, on Friday, docked before an Abuja High Court.

There have been several versions of the actual amount misappropriated by the duo during their tenure. Daily Times reports that the money was the interest that accrued to N567 million donated to the police, for the procurement of arms, ammunition and riot control equipment, by the Bayelsa State Government. Tribune claims that they misappropriated about N558 million while The Nation says they misappropriated about N574.4 million Police fund while in office.

Furthermore, they were accused of placing another N200 million from the donation in a fixed deposit account at the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc where it yielded N6.5 million. They allegedly converted the interests that accrued from the two fixed deposits to their personal use.

They were arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over a six count-charge of criminal conspiracy and misappropriation Police funds while in office.

Both men pleaded not guilty.

The trial judge, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi had granted the former police chief bail in the sum of N10 million and was to also provide a surety in like sum.

But when he failed to meet the bail applications by Friday evening, he was sent to Kuje Prisons to spend at least the next 48 hours, until Monday, with other prisoners.

Ehindero succeeded Tafa Balogun, who was also convicted for corruption, as Inspector General of Police. He served his tenure between 2005 and 2007.